What is Radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed, irritated, or damaged. This most commonly happens when a herniated disc, bone spur, or age-related degenerative changes place pressure on the nerve.
Radiculopathy can affect the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back) spine, with lumbar and cervical radiculopathy being the most common.
Although back pain is very common, only a small percentage of adults will develop symptomatic lumbar radiculopathy during their lifetime. Other conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myelopathy, spondylosis, shingles, or other neurological conditions may cause similar physical symptoms and need to be ruled out by your clinician.
What Are the Symptoms of Radiculopathy?
The physical presentation of radiculopathy may vary and depend on which nerve is affected. Symptoms commonly include:
- Sharp, burning, or shooting pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand, or from the lower back into the buttock, leg, or foot
- Tingling or “pins and needles” sensations
- Numbness or decreased sensation
- Muscle weakness
- Reduced reflexes in the extremities
- Decrease of reflexes in the extremities
What Causes Radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy develops when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed or inflamed. Common causes include:
- Less commonly, spinal tumors, infections, or trauma
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bone spurs (osteophytes)
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings)
- Spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra over another)